Nonprofit Athletic Organization Protection Act of 2006

H.R. 1176, the Nonprofit Athletic Organization Protection Act of 2006, sought to limit the legal liability of nonprofit organizations that set the rules and standards for amateur sports competitions and practices. Under this bill, these organizations would be protected from lawsuits regarding injuries or harm resulting from their rules of play, provided the organization was acting within its official duties and the harm was not caused by gross negligence or criminal misconduct. For citizens, this would mean that organizations like those governing high school or youth sports would face fewer legal hurdles when establishing safety guidelines and game rules, though they would still remain liable for extreme cases of recklessness or willful harm. The bill failed to pass the House of Representatives in December 2006.